Police Arrest Two in Child Sexual Battery Investigation

Published on July 31, 2025

West Palm Beach Police Arrest Two in Child Sexual Battery Investigation

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (July 31, 2025) — The West Palm Beach Police Department arrested two individuals in connection with a child sexual battery investigation that began following a report of abuse on July 30, along the 1000 block of 36th Street.

The investigation revealed that the child’s father, 26-year-old Josue David Mendez-Sales, and his roommate, 23-year-old Pablo Neftaly Cobon-Mendez, repeatedly sexually battered a child under the age of 12.

Mendez-Sales has been charged with five counts of sexual battery on a person less than 12 years of age and one count of child abuse without great bodily harm in violation of Florida Statutes 794.011(2)(a) and 827.03(2)(c), respectively.

Cobon-Mendez faces two counts of sexual battery on a person less than 12 years of age pursuant to Florida Statute 794.011(2)(a).

Both suspects admitted to the repeated abuse during interviews with investigators. They were taken into custody without incident.

The West Palm Beach Police Department extends its gratitude to our state and federal partners, including the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), for their critical assistance in this case.

This remains an active investigation.

Case nos.: 20250011800, 20250011789

###

Rachel Leitao

Public Information Officer

pdpio@wpb.org